Jesus: the Holy One of God
by Pastor Fraser Pearce
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When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’ (Mark 12:34a).
Read Mark 12:28–34
Today is All Saints’ Day – the day when we give thanks to God for all the holy people who have gone before us and whose examples of Christian living have encouraged us in the life of faith.
In today’s reading, we receive the words of our Lord Jesus, the Holy One of God – the One in whom all of God’s holy people have placed their trust.
As part of the reading, Jesus hears from one of the scribes – one of the people trained in God’s word. The scribe says that to love God and one’s neighbour is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. These words of the scribe have a special significance because the conversation he is having with Jesus is in the temple, in the very place where sacrificing happens.
Jesus sees that what the scribe has said is wise and assures him that he is not far from the kingdom of heaven. This was more true than the scribe could have known. Not only was the scribe close to the kingdom in the wisdom of his answer, but he was also close to God’s kingdom in the person of God’s Son, Jesus.
Jesus himself was and is the true Lamb of God who has brought us to new life in God by his sacrificial suffering and death and his resurrection and ascension. God has provided the sacrifice for us so that we may be free to trust wholeheartedly in God and honour our neighbour in our works of love. As God grows us in the life of love, he also frees us to be people who can set a good example of Christian living to the little ones in the faith.
Lamb of God, you have taken away the sin of the world. Give us your mercy and peace so that we may love our neighbour as ourselves. Amen.
Fraser Pearce grew up in Sydney and has served as a pastor in Melbourne, Bendigo and Adelaide. He is married to Margaret, and they have four children ranging in age from 15 to 23. Fraser enjoys being with family and friends, listening to (and playing) music and reading.
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